Take down lever (which way?)

[Tony Min]

Well, I couldn't leave well enough alone.
So I took what I think is the old spring and bent it a little. It actually bends pretty easy and must not be that hardened.
The lever got a little harder to put in but the lever still is pretty easy to lower. So I kept adjusting it.
I had to tap the lever in by the third adjustment but the lever is still pretty easy to lower. Though it has a bit more of a notch. But not as much as when it is completely down.
I examined the slot again and it looks fine and the edges are not at all round. I am not really sure what is going on.

I can't understand how adjusting the side plate would affect the take down lever but I will do some searches. Though I am not going to rush into any adjustments there. It might be fine the way it is and I will wait with further work until I get a chance to shoot it.

I am open to more opinions about this issue.